Local libraries don't block porn

Many of us give little thought to what we may be looking at when we access the Internet from the privacy of our own homes.

Logging on from a public place may call for us to be more careful.

A recent check found that libraries in Amarillo and Canyon do not have filters to block access to pornography on computers set aside for public use.

However, they do have procedures for dealing with people who look up such Web sites in the library.

"What we do is, if we notice someone accesses inappropriate material, we go talk to them and let them know that there's been a concern expressed," said Amarillo Director of Library Services Donna Littlejohn. "And, if it continues, their usage is suspended."

Internet use is free for those with a library card. Patrons in each city's library use their card number to log into the system. Library personnel can block the number if the card carrier doesn't obey the rules.

Littlejohn said, though, it isn't a problem in Amarillo's five libraries. The 118 computer work stations in the city library system count 120,000 log-ins a year.

"I think typically it's going to be a teenager and we just talk to them and more often than not, that takes care of it," she said. "The majority of people come in to do research, check e-mail."

Littlejohn said computer use in libraries is confidential, unless criminal activity is reported. Then it's handled by authorities.

Noreen Taylor, librarian with the Canyon Area Library, said porn on library computers isn't usually a problem there either.

"It's not a frequent problem. They would be given a warning and then they could become blocked from using their library card," she said.

Taylor also said she thought limiting Internet usage to one hour per day probably cut down the chances.

"Having just that hour of usage, it's in a public place and it's in a smaller community, it's not a problem," she said.

A spokesperson for the Texas Library Association said the association encourages libraries to find a balance in policies that allow the public access, but also ties in with community and local values.

"The federal guidelines for libraries in receipt of certain types of funds in regards to Internet accessibility is it can't specify what an adult can or can't see," said Director of Communications Gloria Meraz. "It really just depends on the community in question and the demographics and so on."

Meraz said many libraries have found an answer in setting up separate children and adult computer areas and using privacy screens.